Data and AI Governance Specialist

LAKEORA is a Riyadh-based data and AI advisory firm and a pure-play Databricks partner. We build the governed data platforms that Saudi enterprises run their decisions on, going deep on one platform rather than wide across many, with governance designed in from the start. We are early-stage, flat, and deliberately small. You work directly with customers, own the architecture you design, and see it reach production. We like engineers who are direct, curious, and would rather get something right than get it agreed. What are we looking for? We’re looking for a Data and AI Governance Specialist who supports governance end to end: framework design, data quality, AI risk, and national index readiness (NDI/NAII) that turns compliance into a client deliverable, not a checkbox. At LAKEORA, this role is client-facing by design. You’ll work directly with client stakeholders, support data and AI governance delivery, and help translate findings into recommendations that are tangible for both technical and business audiences. Lean team, high visibility, real impact. Key Responsibilities Data Governance Support clients in designing and documenting data governance frameworks: ownership models, stewardship roles, policies, and standards Support data quality initiatives: profiling, defining quality rules, monitoring, and remediation tracking Support data cataloging, metadata management, and lineage documentation across client environments Help translate client business requirements into governance scope, deliverables, and effort estimates AI Governance Support clients in designing AI governance frameworks: model inventory, risk-tiering, approval workflows, and documentation standards Help assess client AI systems against responsible AI principles: explainability, auditability, bias, and risk controls Map client data and AI practices against global frameworks to benchmark maturity National Index Readiness (NDI / NAII) Run client readiness assessments against the National Data Index (NDI) and National AI Index (NAII) scoring criteria, identifying gaps between current practice and index requirements Compile and organize the evidence, documentation, and artifacts clients need to demonstrate compliance for index submissions Build remediation roadmaps that close index gaps in priority order, sequenced against client timelines and resourcing Track client progress against NDI/NAII benchmarks across engagement milestones and report status to stakeholders Stay current on updates to NDI/NAII methodology and criteria, and translate changes into updated client guidance Client Delivery Participate in discovery sessions with prospective and existing clients, documenting findings and shaping governance approaches Coordinate with client enterprise architecture and IT teams to ensure governance work aligns with their broader data and AI strategy Build working relationships with client business stakeholders and communicate findings in business-impact terms Support the establishment and operation of client data and AI governance offices Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s degree in IT, Data Management, or a related field 3+ years of experience in data governance and/or AI governance Strong awareness of local data protection, data management, and AI regulatory frameworks in the Kingdom, including national data and AI indexes such as NDI and NAII Solid understanding of data standards, policies, procedures, and data quality frameworks Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and business stakeholders confidently Fluency in Arabic and English Preferred: Direct experience supporting a National Data Index (NDI) or National AI Index (NAII) readiness or submission process DAMA certification Familiarity with AI governance/risk frameworks or platforms Consulting or client-facing delivery experience Exposure to data governance tooling Saudi National If this sounds like the kind of work you want to do, we would like to hear from you. LAKEORA is an equal opportunity employer and assesses every application on merit. Show more Show less